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Photo by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell. Photographer Karen Flowers Cagan and other members of Westwood Artists held their holiday fair in the historic Fisher Schoolhouse.
12-07-2024 9:48pm
Community Welcomes Winter Holidays at Second Annual Westwood Holiday Walkabout
Darlene Cancell
Editor
At the second annual Westwood Holiday Walkabout on Saturday, December 7th, jointly held by Westwood Artists, First Baptist Church of Westwood and First Parish of Westwood, event organizers spoke of a desire to provide the community with a positive experience while attendees spoke of an enjoyable time and “good vibes.” This year’s event was the second time the three organizations have held their annual fairs collaboratively.
At First Baptist Holly Fair, the first stop of the Walkabout, long tables were filled with baked items and food, jewelry, Christmas décor, and used items in an “attic treasures” section, among other things. Event organizer Wendy Wilhelm commented on a desire to see people happy, and hoped that the church’s offerings of a variety of goods at great prices would help.
Janet Shepperson, a long-time member of First Baptist, along with friend Marie Chase, staffed a festive dollar table filled with attractive handmade Christmas crafts and ornaments. She noted the camaraderie of preparing for the event with friends. “It’s fun, and we like to be together,” she said.
Photo by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell. Janet Shepperson (left) and Marie Chase (right) were volunteer staff at the First Baptist of Westwood Church's Holly Fair on December 7, 2024.Another church member, Sunny O’Malley, had prepared homemade grape jam, something she must be an expert at given her 50 years of making it from scratch. In the past, she has used the grapes from her family’s grapevine. Now, she buys grapes to cook and mash. “It takes me days to make 100 jars of jelly,” she says. The jars she brings to sell at the fair are priced at $5.
At the Fisher School, the Walkabout’s second stop, the display from Westwood Artists included photography, pottery, jewelry, and paintings. Kathy O’Donnell, who is a regular at Westwood Artists events, brought her origami earring creations. Ms. O’Donnell enjoys returning to the unique setting of the historic Fisher School with her Westwood Artists colleagues. “This group of artists is fabulous. I love being a part of this,” she says.
Photo by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell. Kathy O'Donnell loves returning to the space of the historic Fisher School for Westwood Artist events.Ms. O’Donnell’s display of around 40 items could represent well over 100 hours of work, she says. She tries to offer a new design each year. This time, her new origami design is a poinsettia.
At the third and final stop of the Walkabout - First Parish of Westwood’s Christmas Fair – visitors found fresh, sweet-smelling hand-decorated balsam wreathes being sold in the barn, while silent auction offerings, delightfully decorated holiday cookies, handmade knits, and hot soups, and artists were housed inside.
Self-taught watercolor artist Elidi of Lidibug Studio demonstrated her skills by painting a commissioned ornament, while she staffed her table of wares of ornaments and dishtowels, all decorated with her original artwork.
Photo by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell. Artist Elidi of Lidibug Studio demonstrated her craft in-person at First Parish of Westwood's Christmas Fair.Also in attendance were the MassAppeal a cappela group of Olivia Miller, Jennie Bruno, Amanda Deloireiro, Natalie Price, Meg Dent and Niki Holland. The group, whose members come from all over the Boston area, include members who have been together for around 10 years. They had performed at the first Westwood Holiday Walkabout a year ago.
When asked what brought them back for a return performance, member Natalie Price stated, “We really liked it last year, having the different locations. We’ve done a few other caroling things, but I think it’s just [ ] the joy, good vibes and everyone’s really enjoying themselves,” she said.
Photo by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell. The a cappella group, MassAppeal, pictured here at First Parish of Westwood, visited all three locations of Westwood's Holiday Walkabout, sharing both traditional and contemporary carols.
